Unit History: RAF Oldenburg

RAF Oldenburg in 1952

Written by Trevor Taff Parry

I served with 3 MRSU at Oldenburg & Fassburg, (2TAF), Germany national service 1951/52.
I played football for the unit & have a photograph of the team. Captain of the football team was David Price. He was also captain of the cricket team. He played centre half & wicket-keeper for the cricket. I played left-wing for the football team & fast-bowled for the cricket team.
3 MRSU - The unit was formed at Fassburg, Germany in 1952. It was a Mobile Recovery Salvage Unit. This unit recovered crashed aircraft and returned them to base. We were dealing mostly with vampires but also Meteor aircraft.
There are 2 Oldenburg’s. One near the Bremen (far larger). This is where we were stationed. There is a river running through the town. There were many trams & bicycles in those days. A new swimming pool was being built before I was demobbed, early in 1952.

RAF Oldenburg, in 1957

Having trained as an aircraft engine fitter at St Athans I was posted to Germany at Oldenburg working on the Aicraft Servicing Flight. While I was there I was made responsible for the Crash Crew vehicles. I can remember 14 Sqadron and I think 21. When the Sqadrons swapped with the Canadians we were called upon to do the first line servicing because there was a test Atom attack and the pilots bought us a crate of beer for doing such a good job. Does anyone remember the Spitfre that used to be moved from Sqadron to Sqadron at night and hidden.